Bernards Township School District Technology Steering Committee Update September 25, 2017 Alex Blinder Director of IT Thomas Misiak Supervisor of Science & Technology https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1922&bih=952&q=classroom+technology+tools&oq=classroom+tec&gs_l=img.3.0.0l10.1039.6206.0.9454.14.14.0.0.0.0.91.860.13.13.0...0...1.1.64.img..1.13.859.0.h1vhyglrgqi#imgrc=mcrb1aqasednam:
In Tonight s Presentation Recap of the Work from the 16-17 School Year Site Visits Extensive Research Stakeholder Surveys Grade-Band Subcommittee Work The Recommendation of the Technology Steering Committee SAMR Model Identified Needs Proposal to meet those Needs Next Steps
The Work of the Committee to Date https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1922&bih=952&q=classroom+technology+tools&oq=classroom+tec&gs_l=img.3.0.0l10.1039.6206.0.9454.14.14.0.0.0.0.91.860.13.13.0...0...1.1.64.img..1.13.859.0.h1vhyglrgqi#imgrc=s5rkn2vqd7lqtm:
Site Visits Branchburg K-8 District 1:1 Chromebooks 2-8 ipads available K-1 Chester K-8 District 1:1 Chromebooks Grades 2-8 ipads available K-1 Pascack Valley 9-12 District 1:1 laptops since 2004 Currently Mac platform; other platforms vetted over duration of 1:1 program
Extensive Research Site Visit districts shared their own research Research that led to the investment & implementation Ongoing research to refine optimal use Our own research Identified: 131 districts with a comparable tax base Top public schools in NJ List of Peer Group Schools From these lists, the committee extensively reviewed the technology plans of 73 school districts
Our 26 Peer Group Schools 1:1 in Place (17 total) Berkely Heights Township Glen Ridge Boro Glen Rock Boro Hopewell Valley Livingston Township North Hunterdon- Voorhees Regional Northern Highlands Regional Northern Valley Regional Pascack Valley Ramapo-Indian Hills Regional Ridgewood Village Rutherford Boro School District of the Chathams Sparta Township Watchung Hills West Essex Regional West Morris Regional No Information Available (9 total) Freehold Regional Haddonfield Boro Hanover Park Regional Kinnelon Boro Mountain Lakes Regional Ramsey Boro River Dell Regional Verona Boro Westfield
Additional Schools Worth Noting Additional Districts used for Comparison Holmdel: No information available Hillsborough: 1:1 program in place Millburn: No information available Montgomery: BYOD Princeton: unique plan to address inequities in access to technology West Windsor-Plainsboro: 1:1 program in place
Stakeholder Surveys Student Surveys K-2 :666 responses 3-5: 1,033 responses 6-8: 1,166 responses 9-12: 1,145 responses Results: Overwhelmingly positive about the impact of instructional technology in the learning experience
Stakeholder Surveys (cont.) Staff Surveys K-5: 164 responses 6-8: 102 responses 9-12: 150 responses Results: Clearly indicative that teachers need greater access to technology for their students/ current level of access results in teachers making adjustments to what would otherwise be the optimal approach to a lesson
Stakeholder Surveys (cont.) Parent Surveys K-12: 1,235 Responses Result: Technology in the classroom is a polarizing topic I do not support a 1:1 initiative Today's reality is 1:1 access devices everywhere. The school should be part of preparing them to use these devices effectively and properly More are in favor of increasing technology than are opposed
Grade Band Committee Work The Committees: K-5, 6-8 & 9-12 The Task Reflect Upon: Site Visits, Research & Surveys Create a Presentation Outline Current Technology Usage Identify Needs
Full Committee Presentations The slides that follow are a condensed summary of this work put together by the committees K-5 6-8 9-12
The 9-12 Committee s Findings Advantages of an SDI Dynamic Assessment & Personalized Feedback Improved Student Engagement Increased Collaboration Access to Quality/Authentic Resources 21 st Century Skills Concerns Need for Staff Development Academic Integrity Social Media/Off Task Distractors* *An issue that the school has minimal control over under the current BYOD model
9-12 Committee (cont.) The subcommittee researched and presented a breakdown of advantages and concerns by subject area Overall: Advantages significantly outnumbers concerns All advantages reflected an ability to improve instruction and feedback to students All concerns were about logistics such as need for staff development Overwhelming indication that the current technology plan- BYOD plus Chromebook carts available- is not meeting our instructional needs BYOD is hard to manage- devices cannot be troubleshot by school employees and can pose issues with network security DEPARTMENTS: Business English Language Arts (ELA) Fine Arts Mathematics Physical Education/ Health Science Social Studies Technology Education World Languages
6-8 Committee s Findings Advantages Creates greatest opportunity for differentiating and adapting to individual needs Allows for real time assessment and feedback Concerns Professional Development Storage of Devices Monitoring of Device Use Increases student engagement Provides best access to proven resources 21 st century skills
6-8 Committee (cont.) Very specific examples of exemplary instruction taking place at WAMS that could not be accomplished without technology (more on this to come) Overall: Advantages and needs indicated at the 9-12 level were validated and reiterated Here the issue of access to technology is exacerbated as students may not provide their own devices as they do at RHS Once again, concerns are logistical
The K-5 Committee Advantages Curriculum Under an SDI, curriculum would be revised to incorporate better, more effective ways to meet the needs of all students Instruction Enhanced ability to differentiate and tailor lessons to individual students Access to resources and methods otherwise unavailable without technology Flip Grid, Screencast, Cam Scam were among those cited Alleviates grade level disparity 21 st Century Skills Concerns Due to lack of familiarity, some students do not assess well via technology Screen Time
K-5 Committee (cont.) Like the high school and middle school, K-5 teachers analyzed the benefit in each content area and identified exemplary lessons that would not be possible without technology Once teachers and students have exposure/training, the committee was confident that, in the long term, all concerns would be alleviated
Findings of the Committee Based upon all aspects of the committee s research the committee found: At all grade levels, benefits of increasing access to technology far outweigh concerns
The Recommendation of the Committee https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1922&bih=952&q=technology+committee&oq=technology+comm&gs_l=img.3.2.0l7.2916.7810.0.9842.18.16.2.0.0.0.353.1776.0j7j1j1.9.0...0...1.1.64.img..7.11.1778.0...0.nfdeagmw9gc#imgrc=aijb7kw4etf1rm.img..1.13.859.0.h1vhyglrgqi#imgrc=ohayx_dkdbmr9m:..
SAMR Model https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1922&bih=952&q=classroom+technology+tools&oq=classroom+tec&gs_l=img.3.0.0l10.1039.6206.0.9454.14.14.0.0.0.0.91.860.13.13.0...0...1.1.64.img..1.13.859.0.h1vhyglrgqi#imgrc=ohayx_dkdbmr9m:..
Our Research K-12 we have teachers providing exemplary instruction through the optimal use of technology per SAMR model Examples This cannot be the reality for all staff and students due to the current constraints imposed by limited access Labs not always available Sharing of devices between teachers means students get access when it is available not most beneficial to learning
Identified Needs 1. Our research turned up a need to improve upon the current level of access that students have to technology in Bernards Township Teachers need to be able to provide students with access to technology when such access would enhance the lesson in ways not possible otherwise Such access needs to be readily available; the constraints imposed by the current student: technology ratio need to be alleviated 2. Staff needs to be trained how to implement technology into their lessons in accordance with the SAMR model 3. The district needs to invest in infrastructure to support the appropriate use of these devices
Improving Achievement Through differentiation student achievement is improved for all students An SDI allows Bernards Township to differentiate in ways currently not possible by hitting the M & R levels of the SAMR Model Therefore, the goal of the SDI is to improve instruction & learning for all students in Bernards Township 17 of our Peer Group Schools already confirmed 1:1 Does Ridge continue to provide a superior education if we do not consider 21 st century needs and the change trends and needs in education?
Proposal of the Technology Steering Committee Year of Implementation Breakdown by Grade Band 1 K-5 Remove all existing Chromebook carts Grades 3-5: new classroom device sets of 30 Class averages are less than 30- excess used to provide K-2 access Devices stay in classroom; do not travel with students 6-8 Half of displaced Chromebook carts sent to supplement existing fleet 9-12 Other half of displaced carts send to supplement current access
Proposal of the Technology Steering Committee Year of Implementation Breakdown by Grade Band 2 K-5 2 nd year of 1:1 6-8 Remove all existing carts Acquire device sets of 30 devices per class Devices stay in classroom; do not travel with students 9-12 All displaced carts to RHS; access now 1:1 with aging fleet Final year of BYOD
Proposal of the Technology Steering Committee (cont.) Year of Implementation Breakdown by Grade Band 3 K-5 Year 3 of 1:1; single device platform across entire grade band 6-8 Year 2 of 1:1; single device platform across entire grade band 9-12 No more BYOD at RHS; no more guest network All old (devices currently in use during 17-18 school year) removed from service Sets of 30 devices in most classrooms Maintain PC labs on a needs basis Devices stay in classroom; do not travel with students
Proposal of the Technology Steering Committee (cont.) Year of Implementation Breakdown by Grade Band 4 K-5 Year 4 of 1:1 6-8 Year 3 of 1:1; single device platform across entire grade band 9-12 Year 2 of 1:1; single device platform across entire grade band
Cost Projections Projections on next slide include: Sets of 30 Devices Per Classroom (cost is an estimate as device is TBD) Maintenance of Existing PC Labs Initial Device Configuration Security & Monitoring Software Packages 3% Breakage- Repairs & Replacement Instructional Software Licenses & Packages Projections do not include: Routine, cyclical, or otherwise scheduled infrastructure updates Wifi Upgrade; Replacement of Staff Devices
Cost Projections (cont.) Year 1: K-5 Band: $583,557 Year 2: 6-8 Band: $493,046 Year 3: 9-12 Band: $573,686 Year 4: Repair & Software Licensing: $72,260
Status of the Current Fleet Within the next three years, every Chromebook currently in service will need to be replaced Comparison of the costs to maintain the current fleet of technology against those to implement an SDI per the 4 year proposal Maintain Fleet: Avg. Annual Cost $258,382 SDI Proposal: Avg. Annual Cost: $430,637 Projected Difference: Annual Avg. of $172,255
Next Steps https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1922&bih=952&q=classroom+technology+tools&oq=classroom+tec&gs_l=img.3.0.0l10.1039.6206.0.9454.14.14.0.0.0.0.91.860.13.13.0...0...1.1.64.img..1.13.859.0.h1vhyglrgqi#imgrc=mcrb1aqasednam:
District Goal #3 Establish a Technology Steering Committee to make recommendations regarding the district s long term technology needs that best supports district goals one and two. Activities to Accomplish this Goal: Survey Staff, Students, Parents Consider infrastructure, all hardware and software and broadband Consider short term and longer term costs and sustainability Make recommendations on above including 1:1 initiatives
Classroom Experiences Highlight how such an environment is possible in all classrooms per the outlined recommendation Visit classrooms in district emulating 1:1 environment Mock classroom to experience SAMR model and 21 st century instruction
Following Classroom Experiences Follow-Up Discussion If Moving Forward: Begin researching device platforms K-5 Device drives cost; Cost drives viability of proposal Revision to proposal may be necessary Revise cyclical technology upgrade and maintenance schedule to align with rollout plan When would 6-8 and 9-12 vet devices? Again- if moving forward 6-8 would vet devices during year 1 of K-5 9-12 would vet devices during year 1 of 6-12 Once we are in year 1 of 9-12 we would have a better understanding of the impact and effectiveness of our proposal
Thank You